Sufficiently advanced magic refers to the concept that as magic in a fictional world becomes more advanced and powerful, it begins to resemble technology in its complexity and capabilities. This idea was popularized by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke's third law, which states that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Clarke's law suggests that as technology progresses, it can become so advanced that it appears as magic to those who do not understand its workings. Similarly, in the realm of fantasy literature and role-playing games, the concept of sufficiently advanced magic suggests that as magical systems and abilities become more developed and intricate, they can start to resemble technology in their functionality. This can include complex spells that simulate scientific principles, magical artifacts that function like advanced machines, or magical beings that possess abilities that are beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals.
This can include complex spells that simulate scientific principles, magical artifacts that function like advanced machines, or magical beings that possess abilities that are beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. In such worlds, magic becomes a structured and systematic force that can be studied, harnessed, and manipulated like technology. Magic users may have to undergo specialized training or education to understand and wield the more advanced forms of magic.
"Sufficiently Advanced Magic" review
This is a combined review of the first two novels in the Arcane Ascension series, Sufficiently Advanced Magic and On the Shoulders of Titans. I DNF’d the series at that point, after reading Goodreads reviews of the third novel, The Torch that Ignites the Stars.
That should give you a pretty good idea of my thoughts on these books.
After I read and loved Cradle so much, I decided to give another self-published progression fantasy that I’d seen praised on /r/fantasy a try…but honestly these series have almost nothing in common, and I struggle to understand the praise for SAM.
- Jin is pretty cool
- The actual plot and world, with the towers and Voices and etc is really interesting
- It’s a pretty good description of an asexual main character, though it loses almost all of the points it gains from this by having the most cringe introduction to / explanation of a nonbinary character later on in book 2
Bad things (there’s some spoilers here. Nothing SUPER major imo, but you may want to avoid if you’re still planning on reading these novels. But, you shouldn’t. They kind of suck.):
- The plot that I said is pretty cool almost never happens. Maybe 10% of the book is plot.
- The fight scenes are immeasurably boring, feel inanely low-stakes, and take up a huge percentage of the book
- The puzzle-solving scenes are even worse than the fight scenes
- The being-an-enchanter identity crisis makes literally no sense with the entire rest of the main character’s personality - he seems to have zero affinity for fighting, tons of affinity for tricking his way out of situations and inventing things, and yet doesn’t even have inner conflict about his attunement, only disappointment. It’s like the author wrote the character’s reactions to events prior to defining the character’s personality, and didn’t adjust the former when the two didn’t align.
- More of an issue in the second book, but the random side quests are zero-stakes and drag on forever
- Seriously, the monster fighting, which is somehow the entire point of the book, is just so utterly pointless.
- The school-as-a-plot-device-for-world-building really just does not work. Half the narrator’s classes feel like in-universe kindergarten, but he’s supposed to be in in-universe college or something. They try to explain part of this by saying that he’s catching up from missing three years of schooling, and there’s commoners who had no schooling, but like…it could be made to make so much more sene by sticking him in some sort of “remedial” class and giving him a great excuse to feel awkward about his father from this situation, and letting us get the worldbuilding that way. Instead we’re supposed to believe that all of these kids have no idea of the most basic tenets about advancement in the magical arts that they’ve spent their entire lives preparing for.
- Speaking of which, I just could not take the magic system seriously. Citrine? Carnelian? Maybe this is a me-problem, and if the rest of the book had been great I could have forgiven it, but these words are too elaborate for me to believe them. Linguistically, core concepts of a culture tend to be simple words because people say them all the damn time, and no one wants to say bullshit long words like this, so they’ll shorten them. Cradle’s Copper/Iron/Jade is believable, those words are short and easy for literally anyone to remember. I had to search in the ebook text to remember “Carnelian.”
- Also, I read 1300 pages of a progression fantasy series, and the dude like…doesn’t advance? What is this? Despite the fact that the lore of the universe is thrown in our face constantly, it seems completely irrelevant to any part of the plot that matters.
Anyway, if you want to read a progression fantasy, read Cradle. Cradle is AMAZING. If you’ve already read Cradle and you’re looking for more progression fantasy, currently I don’t have a recommendation. Cradle is something special.
They may need to possess a deep understanding of magical theory, complex rituals, or have access to arcane texts and artifacts to unlock the more powerful aspects of magic. Sufficiently advanced magic often implies a progression from basic or rudimentary magical abilities to more advanced and complex forms. Characters may start with basic spells or enchantments, but through practice, learning, and discovery, they can unlock more powerful and intricate magical abilities. This progression can serve as a central theme in many fantasy stories, where characters strive to master their magic and unlock new levels of power and understanding. Furthermore, sufficiently advanced magic can also introduce ethical and philosophical questions. As magic becomes more akin to advanced technology, questions of responsibility, control, and the potential for abuse arise. Just as advanced technology can be used for both benevolent and destructive purposes, so too can advanced magic. This can lead to conflicts, both internal and external, as characters grapple with the moral implications and consequences of their magical abilities. In conclusion, the concept of sufficiently advanced magic suggests that as magical systems become more developed and intricate, they can begin to resemble technology in their complexity and capabilities. This idea offers a unique lens through which to explore the world of magic in fantasy literature and role-playing games, as well as the ethical and philosophical questions that arise when power becomes increasingly advanced and intertwined with technology..
Reviews for "Increasin gYour Magical Abilities: Techniques for Sufficiently Advanced Magic"
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Sufficiently Advanced Magic" based on all the positive reviews, but I was left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed. The magic system was confusing and poorly explained, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The characters also didn't do much for me, as I didn't feel a strong connection to any of them. Overall, I was expecting a thrilling and captivating read, but unfortunately, it fell short for me.
- Mark - 1/5 stars - I don't understand the hype around "Sufficiently Advanced Magic." The plot was convoluted and dragged on for far too long. The author seemed to prioritize explaining every minute detail of the magic system over character development and a gripping story. I found myself losing interest and struggled to finish the book. The writing style also left much to be desired, with awkward sentence structure and excessive info-dumping. Maybe I'm just not the target audience, but this book was a major letdown for me.
- Amanda - 2/5 stars - I was bored to tears reading "Sufficiently Advanced Magic." The story seemed to go nowhere, and the constant exposition about the magic system was tiresome. I couldn't connect with the characters at all, as they lacked depth and felt one-dimensional. The pacing was sluggish, and I found myself skimming through pages just to get to the end. Overall, I was hoping for an exciting and engrossing read, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.